On Saturday, July 12th between 8 and 8:15 pm, the Richmond Times Dispatch is asking members of the PMCA and RAS to appear at 17th Street. Rex Springston will be doing a follow-up story on the Purple Martins. It will be published hopefully next Tuesday.

 

So far the city has agreed not to cut the trees and to sponsor a Purple Martin Celebration on Saturday, July 26th from 6-9 pm.

 

Last Sunday evening, we watch about 1,000 Purple Martins fly into the 21 Bradford Pear trees. A red-tailed hawk had been waiting for them nearby. It flew into the trees, grabbed a Purple Martin and flew to the telephone pole in front of us and proceeded to eat the Purple Martin.

 

When the hawk finished off the bird, it flew back into the trees and tried for another Purple Martin. It missed and then perched on a nearby building. The red-tailed hawk flew away after a dog barked at it.

See you TOMORROW EVENING AT 8 PM!